The Diwan-i-Am, or Hall of Audience, is a room in the Red Fort of Delhi where the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1592–1666) and his successors received members of the general public and heard their grievances.[1]
The inner main court to which the Nakkarkhana led was 540 feet broad, 420 feet deep, and surrounded by arcade galleries, where chieftains (umaras) on duty were posted.[2] On the further side of it is the Diwan-i-Am.
The Diwan-i-Am consists of a front hall, open on three sides and backed by a set of rooms faced in red sandstone.[2] The hall is 100 ft x 60 ft and divided into 27 square bays on a system of columns which support the arches. The roof is spanned by sandstone beams.[1]
The proportions of this hall, of its columns, and of the engraved arches show high aesthetics and fine craftsmanship. With an impressive façade of nine engraved arch openings, the hall was ornamented with gilded and white shell lime chunam plaster work.[2] Its ceiling and columns were painted with gold.[1]
In the centre of the eastern wall stands a marble canopy (jharokha) covered by a "Bengal" roof. A marble dais below the throne, inlaid with semi-precious stones, was used by the prime minister (wazir) to receive petitions. The emperor was separated from the courtiers by a gold-plated railing, while a silver railing ran around the remaining three sides of the hall.[1] The audience ceremony is known as Jharokha Darshan.
Behind the canopy, the wall is decorated with panels inlaid with multi-coloured pietra dura stones. They represent flowers and birds and are reputedly carved by Austin de Bordeaux, a Florentine jeweler.[2][1] The hall was restored by Lord Curzon, while the inlay work of the throne recess and the plaques of the arch to the west side of the throne were restored by the Florentine artist, Mennegatti. Bernier gives a full account of the splendid appearance of the hall during the rule of Aurangzeb, as well as the 17th century merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier.[2]
^ abcdeMurray, John (1911). A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon (8th ed.). Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, & Co. p. 197. ISBN978-1175486417. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
External linksedit
Media related to Diwan-i-Am (Red Fort) at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
diwan, fort, 655713, 242283, 655713, 242283, interior, view, facing, jharokha, diwan, hall, audience, room, fort, delhi, where, mughal, emperor, shah, jahan, 1592, 1666, successors, received, members, general, public, heard, their, grievances, inner, main, cou. 28 39 21 N 77 14 32 E 28 655713 N 77 242283 E 28 655713 77 242283 Interior view facing the jharokha The Diwan i Am or Hall of Audience is a room in the Red Fort of Delhi where the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan 1592 1666 and his successors received members of the general public and heard their grievances 1 The inner main court to which the Nakkarkhana led was 540 feet broad 420 feet deep and surrounded by arcade galleries where chieftains umaras on duty were posted 2 On the further side of it is the Diwan i Am The Diwan i Am consists of a front hall open on three sides and backed by a set of rooms faced in red sandstone 2 The hall is 100 ft x 60 ft and divided into 27 square bays on a system of columns which support the arches The roof is spanned by sandstone beams 1 The proportions of this hall of its columns and of the engraved arches show high aesthetics and fine craftsmanship With an impressive facade of nine engraved arch openings the hall was ornamented with gilded and white shell lime chunam plaster work 2 Its ceiling and columns were painted with gold 1 In the centre of the eastern wall stands a marble canopy jharokha covered by a Bengal roof A marble dais below the throne inlaid with semi precious stones was used by the prime minister wazir to receive petitions The emperor was separated from the courtiers by a gold plated railing while a silver railing ran around the remaining three sides of the hall 1 The audience ceremony is known as Jharokha Darshan Behind the canopy the wall is decorated with panels inlaid with multi coloured pietra dura stones They represent flowers and birds and are reputedly carved by Austin de Bordeaux a Florentine jeweler 2 1 The hall was restored by Lord Curzon while the inlay work of the throne recess and the plaques of the arch to the west side of the throne were restored by the Florentine artist Mennegatti Bernier gives a full account of the splendid appearance of the hall during the rule of Aurangzeb as well as the 17th century merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier 2 Contents 1 Gallery 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksGallery edit nbsp The wall of the balcony with inlay work painting by Ghulam Ali Khan before 1854 nbsp The throne of Shah Jahan today with anti bird netting nbsp Throne detail nbsp Diwan i Am DescriptionSee also editDiwan i Khas Peacock ThroneReferences edit a b c d e Diwan i Am of Red Fort Archaeological Survey of India 2011 Retrieved 9 December 2013 a b c d e Murray John 1911 A handbook for travellers in India Burma and Ceylon 8th ed Calcutta Thacker Spink amp Co p 197 ISBN 978 1175486417 Retrieved 25 January 2014 External links edit nbsp Media related to Diwan i Am Red Fort at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diwan i Am Red Fort amp oldid 1144365809, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
